Red meat industry hails new migrant visa rules as win for jobs and exports

Yesterday, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford announced two new seasonal work visas in an effort to ensure New Zealand businesses can access the workers they require during peak periods.

The first visa - the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) - is an up to three-year visa for highly experienced seasonal workers in roles such as rural contracting, sheep scanning, winemaking, and snow instruction.

It is designed to enable skilled workers to return for subsequent seasons on the same visa. Visa holders will need to spend a minimum of three months out of every 12 offshore before returning to New Zealand.

The second visa is a Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV) of up to seven months for short-term seasonal roles such as meat and seafood processing, calf-rearing, and wool handling.

Holders of the PSV will need to have at least one season of previous relevant experience and people will need to leave New Zealand for at least four months before the visa can be renewed. 

Meat Industry Association (MIA) chief executive, Sirma Karapeeva says migrant workers are essential to keeping more Kiwis employed in meat processing plants.

“While the sector aims to employ New Zealanders first and foremost, the reality is that during the peak months of the processing season the demand for these roles exceeds the available workforce in New Zealand," Karapeeva says.

She says that improving the ability to employ migrant workers on a seasonal visa will mean meat processors can ensure shifts run at maximum capacity on a regular basis.

"This results in more sustainable employment and income for New Zealanders employed by the sector," she adds.

"When meat processing plants have enough people to run at full capacity, companies can process every part of the carcass to capture maximum value, ensuring higher returns on exports which flows back to farmers, regional New Zealand and the economy."

Karapeeva says the sector is also committed to providing appropriate pastoral care and wraparound support to migrant workers.

"Companies help them to participate in their communities and enjoy the Kiwi lifestyle while they are in New Zealand. 

“The red meat industry is a cornerstone of New Zealand’s economic and social wellbeing, earning almost $10 billion in export value in 2023/24. It supports over 92,000 jobs and generates approximately $4.6 billion in household income for Kiwis. 

“At the regional level, especially in rural New Zealand, its importance is even more pronounced.

“We thank Minister Stanford and government officials for their positive engagement with the sector.”